logo
Blue Jays: Jeff Hoffman pitching better than his numbers suggest
alt
Photo credit: © John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Ben Wrixon
Apr 15, 2026, 21:00 EDTUpdated: Apr 15, 2026, 20:53 EDT
Comments
The Blue Jays’ 9-7 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night wasn’t without some late-game dramatics, as the team overcame a blown save from Jeff Hoffman to win in extra innings. 
The blown save was Hoffman’s third of the season already. He converted 33 opportunities in 40 tries last year, and, as all Blue Jays fans know, stumbled when it mattered most in the ninth inning in Game 7 of the World Series. It’s generally been more of the same to open this season—at least on the surface. His process has been much improved, despite it not yet translating to better results. 
Blue Jays: Jeff Hoffman’s process has been better than his results
Much of Hoffman’s struggles last season were attributable to the long ball. He gave up 15 home runs in 2025 en route to a 4.37 ERA and 4.90 FIP. Opponents barreled him up a staggering 12.8% of the time, which ranked in just the 1st percentile among all pitchers. This, coupled with a below-average 40.7% ground ball rate, fueled some disaster innings. 
Things have been better on both fronts so far in 2026. Opponents are barreling Hoffman 5.6% of the time, which ranks in the 63rd percentile. His groundball rate, meanwhile, is all the way up to 55.6%. This is a good recipe for allowing fewer home runs, and he’s only given up one of them thus far. 
Hoffman is also striking out more batters than he did last year. His 43.9% K-rate through his first 8 1/3 innings is encroaching on Mason Miller and Edwin Díaz territory. He’s throwing his splitter more often—even more than his fastball—and hitters are slugging just .300 against it. This appears to be a wise adjustment considering 10 of the home runs he gave up last year came off his fastball, which hitters are crushing again in 2026. 
Hoffman’s command is what has let him down in the early going; he’s not done himself any favours by walking 12.2% of the batters he’s faced so far. These passes open the door for teams to manufacture runs as the Brewers did against him on Tuesday night. 
What also can’t be overlooked are the defensive miscues that have occurred while Hoffman has pitched. An errant throw by Tyler Heineman on a bunt cost him a save—and the Blue Jays a win—against the Chicago White Sox, while more shoddy defence hurt him in a non-save situation against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
None of this changes the fact that baseball’s best closers get the job done almost every time, regardless of circumstance. They buckle down and pitch around mistakes. Hoffman isn’t on that tier and probably never will be. However, he is better than how he performed in 2025, and the data right now under the hood suggests he will be—even if the early returns this season have been all too familiar. 

CHECK OUT OFF THE ROSTER – NEW EPISODES EVERY WEEKDAY

Off The Roster is Toronto sports. Hosted by Cabbie Richards, Lindsay Dunn, and Dan Riccio, this is the go-to morning conversation for everything happening in the 6ix – Hockey, Baseball, Basketball and everything in between. From breakout performances and questionable trades to throwback jerseys, viral moments, and the stories fans are actually talking about—it’s smart, sharp, and never scripted. Live weekday mornings on the Nation Network YouTube channel and available wherever you stream podcasts, the show delivers real opinions, real chemistry, and real Toronto energy. Missed an episode? Catch up anytime. Off The Roster—The new sound of the 6ix.

Featured

Editorials

Breaking News